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Mortgage rates were little changed this week, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate remaining at 5.23 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.41 discount and origination points.

More than 25 percent of companies are increasing their investments in information technology (IT) this year, according to the Value of IT Investments survey of more than 500 IT professionals in the US. Conducted by ISACA, a nonprofit association serving 86,000 IT governance, audit and security professionals in 160 countries, the survey also found that only 16 percent of companies are making across-the-board cuts in IT spending and 14 percent are freezing at current levels.

If they could not work because of injury or illness, most people who do not have disability coverage would tap savings, borrow from credit cards or ask friends, family or a partner to help support them, according to a study commissioned by Unum and conducted by Harris Interactive.

In October 2008, 68.6 percent of 2008 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Most Baby Boomers, like their parents, are choosing to "age in place," but a large and growing number – more than 1.2 million households – are choosing to move to communities designed to meet their needs, according to a report released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI).

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index™, which had posted a slight increase in March, improved considerably in April. The Index now stands at 39.2 (1985=100), up from 26.9 in March. The Present Situation Index increased to 23.7 from 21.9 last month. The Expectations Index rose to 49.5 from 30.2 in March.

Bailouts, bonuses and bad business behavior all combined to erode the overall reputation of corporate America to its worst standing in ten years. Technology remains the highest rated industry, but its reputation declined along with six other industries, with the Automotive industry reporting the greatest decrease ever. The Financial Services industry now shares the lowest industry ranking with the Tobacco industry, with just 11% of the public giving positive ratings to these two industries. The Pharmaceutical industry was the only industry to register a significant positive change from 2007, according to the Harris Interactive RQ survey.

Consumer confidence in the overall economy decreased in April, according to figures released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® and CNET. Although there was a slight decrease in consumer expectations about the future, the CEA-CNET Indexes painted a different picture for technology spending expectations, which reached their highest level this year.

Fifty-five percent of U.S. consumers plan to purchase their next vehicle within the next two years, according to a recent consumer sentiment study conducted online with approximately 1,400 U.S. auto owners by R. L. Polk & Co. The percentage of consumers intending to buy within two years varies by region of the country and is the highest in the Plains states and the lowest in the Great Lakes region.

The weekly average rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for thirty-year mortgages remained relatively steady last week. Last week's rate was 5.07 percent, up slightly from 5.06 percent the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by leading real estate Web site Zillow.com®. Meanwhile, rates for 15-year fixed mortgages rose to 4.72 percent, up from 4.68 percent and 5-1 adjustable rate mortgages decreased substantially, down to 4.38 percent from 4.47 percent the week prior.